Worldwide, cats may have been involved in the extinction of more bird species than any other cause, except habitat destruction.

1. U niversity of Wisconsin
researchers found that
cats kill an estimated 19
Worldwide, cats may have been involved million songbirds each year in
that state alone.
in the extinction of more bird species
than any other cause, Nationwide, rural cats
probably kill over a billion
except habitat destruction. small mammals and
hundreds of millions of birds
annually. Urban and suburban
cats add to this deadly toll.
"Free-Ranging Cats" True, many of these kills are
mice, rats, and other species
considered pests, but many
and Pets Take Huge are native songbirds and
mammals whose populations
are already stressed by other
Toll On Wildlife factors, such as habitat
destruction and pesticide
pollution.
For more nature habitat information
Visit these helpful websites: Cats are contributing to the
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of birds such as least terns,
piping plovers, and loggerhead
shrikes. In Florida, the
population of marsh rabbits in
Key West is threatened.
Although rural free-ranging
cats have greater access to
wild animals and undoubtedly
take the greatest toll, even
urban house pets take live prey
when allowed outside.
Extensive studies of the
feeding habits of free-ranging
domestic cats over 50 years
and four continents indicate
that small mammals make up
about 70% of these cats’ prey,
while birds make up about 20%.
The remaining 10% is a variety
of other animals.
Observation of these cats
shows that some can kill more
than 1,000 wild animals per
year. Free-ranging cats living in
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2. small towns each kill an average now considered a separate are usually not regarded as
of 14 wild animals annually. species, named Felis catus. pets, about 60% of households
Rural cats kill many more. have cats. The combined total
Cats were first domesticated of pets and free-ranging cats
Not only do cats prey on in Egypt around 2000 BC and in the U.S. is probably more
many small mammals and birds, were worshipped as a goddess. than 100 million!
but they can outnumber and The Romans introduced the
compete with native predators domestic cat to Britain by 300 Cats differ from wild
such as hawks and weasels. AD. Colonists from Europe then predators in three important
introduced them throughout ways:
Free-ranging domestic cats the world.
may also transmit new (1) People protect cats from
diseases to wild animals. For The cat population is disease, predation, and
example, cats have spread the skyrocketing. The estimated competition – factors that
feline leukemia virus to number of pet cats in urban and can control numbers of wild
mountain lions, and may have rural regions of the U.S. has predators, such as
recently infected the grown from 30 million in 1970 bobcats, foxes, or coyotes.
endangered Florida panther to 60 million in 1990. These
with feline distemper and an estimates are based on U.S. (2) They have a dependable
immune deficiency disease. Plus, Census data and include only supply of supplemental
they can transmit rabies and those cats that people claim to food provided by humans
toxoplasmosis to humans. “own" as pets, not cats that and are not influenced by
are semi-wild or free-ranging. changes in populations of
Domestic cats originated prey. Whereas populations
from the ancestral wild species, Nationwide, about 30% of of native predators will
Felis silvestristhe European
, households have cats. In rural decline when prey becomes
and African wild cat. They are areas where free-ranging cats scarce, cats receiving food
subsidies from people
remain abundant.
What can you do. Here are some tips: (3) Unlike many native
s Keep only as many pet cats as you can feed and care for. predators, cat densities
are either poorly limited or
s If at all possible, for the sake of your cat and local wildlife, keep not limited by territoriality.
your cat indoors.
s Neuter your cats or prevent them from breeding, and encourage With abundant food,
others to do so. densities can reach over 9 per
acre. Unlike some predators, a
s Make sure your feeders are 8 ft. to 10 ft. away from nearby
trees, bushes, or other hiding places where cats and raptors will cat’s desire to hunt is not
wait in ambush. suppressed by adequate
supplemental food. Even when
s If you have a feeder or birdbath that is close to a bush or tree, fed regularly by people, a cat’s
circle the feeder or bath with 2 x 4-inch mesh wire fencing, at motivation to hunt remains
least three feet tall, to disrupt the approach of both cats and
raptors. This will allow the birds to fly through the mesh or fly strong, so it continues
upward to escape. hunting.
s Don’t dispose of unwanted cats by releasing them in rural areas. Some people put bells on
Contact your local animal welfare organization for help. their cat’s collar. But, bells are
s Eliminate sources of food, such as garbage or outdoor pet food mostly ineffective in preventing
dishes, that attract stray cats. predation because, even if the
bell rings, it’s usually too late
s Don’t feed stray cats.
for the prey being stalked.
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3. Declawing may reduce hunting
success, but many declawed
cats are still effective
predators.
In most areas, the person
who provides care for a cat is
legally responsible for its
welfare and control. It is usually
the responsibility of the owner
to control the cat’s
movements.
Many municipalities have
leash laws and require
vaccination and neutering of
pet cats. Because laws vary,
one should check local
ordinances for the appropriate
way to deal with stray cats.
Cats are popular pets. In
order to have and care for our
pets – and still protect our
native wildlife – we must make
an effort to limit, in a humane
manner, the adverse effects
free-ranging cats can have on
wildlife.
(This article was condensed from
Cats and Wildlife—
A Conservation Dilemma
by John S. Coleman, Stanley A. Temple,
and Scott R. Craven,
University of Wisconsin–Madison)
WindStar Wildlife Institute is a
national, non-profit, conservation
organization whose mission is to help
individuals and families establish or
improve the wildlife habitat on their
properties.
For more information or for the name
of a Master Wildlife Habitat Naturalist
in your area, please contact:
WindStar Wildlife Institute
E-mail: wildlife@windstar.org
http://www.windstar.org
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